Quenching machine



Nov. 17, 1936. J. GOGAN 2,061,070

QUENCHING MACHINE Filed May 16, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Nov. 17, 1936. J. GOGAN QUENCHING MACHINE Filed May 16, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 R m m m EP/l Goa/w mwmw ATTORNEY5 Nov. 17', 1936. J. GOGAN 2,061,070

QUENCHING MACHINE Filed May 16, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. Jbsls-PH 606/70 ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 17, 1936 "ITFE'D S TATES P ATEIN T OF .Fl 6 E QUENCHING MACHINE Joseph Gogan, Lakewood, Ohio Application May 16, 1935, Serial No. 21,749

*8 Claims.

The present invention relates to quenching machines .and more particularly to machines for and methods of quenching helical springs.

Heretofore in the :art articles such as helical springs have ordinarily been quenched by merely submerging the same in a quenching medium, usually a manual operation. This method of quenching is not only inefiicient and expensive but unsuited to modern production requirements. Furthermore, the aforesaid method of heat- -.trea.ting produces articles of non-uniform size and quality due to distortion, etc, during the quenching operation. This is particularly true of springs.

An object-of the :present invention is the provision of a novel method of heat treating articles, particularly helical springs, which comprises sizing and quenching the article simultaneously.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a novel quenching machine particularly adapted for quantity production purposes which will besimple and inexpensive in construction and efiicient and reliable in operation.

Another object .of the invention is the pro- Vision-of a novel quenching machine for quenching articles, particularly helical springs, which comprises a plurality of work supporting members movably supported upon a rotatable turret and reciproca'ble-into and out of thequenching medium.

Another object of the invention is the provision .of :a :novel machine for sizing and heattreating articles, particularly helical springs, which comprises sizingdies provided with means for quenching an article while held within said dies.

Another object of the invention is the provision ;of a novel machinefor sizing and quenching hollow articles, particularly helical springs, which comprises a plurality of sizing dies slidably supported on a rotatable turret and re- .ciprocable into and-out of a quenching medium, together with means for applying quenching medium to the interior of the article.

The invention, so far as .the machine is concerned, resides in certain novel .details of construction, and arrangements and combinations of parts, and further objects and advantages thereof will beapparent from the following-description .of the preferred embodiment described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. .1 is a perspective view of a combination .sizing and quenching machine for treating helical springs embodying the present invention;

Fig. :2 .is a vertical section through the center of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

'Fig. 3 is a section approximately on the lines 33 of Figs. 2 and4 with the dies partly closed;

Fig. 4 is [an enlarged end elevation of the sizing dies shown in Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a section approximately on the line 5-5 of v Fig. 4.

The present invention is particularly appli- .cable to the production of helical springs, and the preferred embodiment thereof herein illustrated and described is a combination sizing and quenching machine designed for sizing and quenching helical springs such as used in individual wheel suspensions of automobiles. Referring to the drawings, in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views thereof, a machine provided with four sizing and quenching units is illustrated, although, as will be hereinafter apparent, any number of units may be employed.

Generally speaking, the machine comprises a stationary part or base which, in addition to forming a support fora rotatable turret, etc., .-forms a tank or receptacle for the quenching medium. The turret carries a plurality of hydraulically .operatedsizing and quenching units, in the present instance four spaced 90 apart. Each unit is adapted to size and quench a helical spring, designated by the reference character X, upon each rotation of the turret. In operation, the turret is intermittently rotated, and the .sizing and quenching units are loaded and unloaded in sequenceas they pass a position re-- ferred to as the loading position or station. After the units are loaded, the dies are closed to size the spring, .quenching oil is applied to the interior thereof and the entire die assembly is submerged in the quenching oil carried in the base of the machine. .As the units approach the loading position, the ,die assembly is raised and the dies open to permit removal of the treated spring .and theinsertion of another.

The stationary element or base comprises a member l0 positioned in the center of .a circular tank H preferably made of welded sheet metal. The member .ID rests on the bottom of the tank .I l, is secured thereto so as to prevent any relative movement therebetween, and supports a central vertical shaft .I2 about which theturret is rotatably supported. The turret comprises upper and lower hollow disk members l5 .and I6, respectively, rotatably supported about the shaft [2 by means of suitable roller bearings -l 1 and I8 and an anti-friction thrust bearing which carries the weight of the turret. The disk members I5 and I 6 are connected together by a plurality of metal strips or plates 20 bolted or otherwise secured to fiat faces 2I formed thereon;

The turret is adapted to be rotated by an elec tric motor 25 supported on the upper endof a speed reducer 26 bolted or otherwise secured to an offset portion 27 of the tank II. The speed reducer 26 is connected to the turret through the medium of gears 39 and 3! fixed to the lower speed shaft of the reducer 26 and the upper end of a shaft 32, respectively, a gear 33 fixed to the shaft 32 near the lower end thereof, an idler gear 34, and a gear 35. The shaft 32 is rotatably supported in the offset portion 2'! of the tank II by a bracket 36 secured to the tank and bracket 31 bolted to the member ID. The idler gear 34 is rotatably supported by a short shaft 38 fixed to the bracket 31, and the gear 35 is bolted to the lower disk member I6 of the turret. Most of the weight of the turret is preferably carried by the thrust bearing I9 but some or all of the weight can be carried by a plurality of rollers 40 rotatably supported in brackets 4| attached to the member Ill. The rollers 49 are tapered and engage an inclined or frusto-conical surface 42 on the gear 35.

Each of the sizing and quenching units comprises upper and lower dies of generally rectangular shape, bolted or otherwise secured to angular bracket members slidably secured to the plates 26 and moved vertically to close and submerge the same in the quenching fluid by hydraulic motors supported thereabove. The four sizing and quenching units illustrated are identical in construction and operation and only one thereof will be described in detail, the corresponding parts of the other units being designated by the same reference characters with the letters a, b, and c aflixed thereto, designating the second, third, and fourth units, respectively.

The upper die 45 is secured to the bracket member 41 which in turn is attached to the lower end of a piston rod 59 slidably supported in a bracket 5i bolted to the member I5, and a cylinder 52 secured to the top of the bracket. The upper end of the piston rod 56 is provided with a piston 53 located within the cylinder 52, and a collar or flange 54, formed integral therewith but spaced from the piston head, adapted to engage the upper face of the bracket SI and thereby limit the movement of the piston in a downward direction. The lower end of the cylinder 52 is connected to a header 55 by a pipe 56 provided with a check valve 51 intermediate the ends thereof. The header 55 is constantly supplied with oil under pressure by a pump 60 of conventional construction from a sump or tank 6I supported on the brackets 5i, and the piston 53 is continuously urged in an upward direction, that is, in a direction to open the dies. The pump 69 is connected to the header 55 by the pipe 62.

The piston rod 59 is of such a diameter that the effective area of the upper side of the piston head 53 is much greater than the lower side thereof, and the piston is move-d in a downward direction to close the dies and submerge the same in the quenching fluid by the admission of fluid under pressure to the upper end of the cylinder 52. The ingress and egress of fluid under pressure to the upper end of the cylinder 52 is under the control of a valve 65 supported by the bracket 5|. The valve 65 is connected to the source of fluid pressure by a pipe 66 connected to the lower end of the cylinder 52 which, as previously stated, is

buckles intermediate their ends.

constantly under pressure. A pipe 9'I connects the valve to the upper end of the cylinder 52 and the exhaust from the cylinder is returned to the sump 6| by a pipe 68. The valve 65 illustrated is of the piston type, and the piston 69 thereof is attached to a lever I pivoted to a link II connected to the valve casing. The valve 65 is adapted to be manually operated but can be automatically operated if desired. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, provision is made for automatically moving the valve to connect the upper end of the cylinder 52 to exhaust, at a predetermined point in the rotation of the turret. This means comprises a roller I3 carried on the free end of a spring pressed lever or arm I4 pivotally supported in a switch box 15, adapted to engage the un-der side of the lever ID. The switch box 15 is supported by a bracket I6 fixed to the tank I I and encloses a normally closed limit switch in the control circuit of the motor 25. The switch in the box I is adapted to be actuated by movement of the arm I4 in a downward direction, and simultaneous with the actuation of the valve 65 by the'roller I3, the switch is actuated to open the control circuit to the motor and the rotation of the turret stopped.

The lower die 46 is continuously urged in an upward direction by a fluid pressure actuated motor comprising a piston rod 86 slidably supported in a bracket 8! secured to the upper end of a cylinder 82 supported on the upper end of the cylinder 52. The lower end of the piston rod 89 has secured thereto a collar 83 which acts as a stop when the piston is moved in an upward direction and the upper end thereof which projects through the bracket BI carries a member 84 fixed thereto. The piston rod 86 is operatively connected to the lower die 46 by a plurality of rods 88 I and 89 attached to the bracket 48 which carries the die 46 and to the member 84. The rods 88 and 89 are adjustably connected to the member 84 so that the length thereof can be adjusted, and, in the present instance, are also provided with turn- The lower end of the cylinder 82 is continuously connected to a source of fluid pressure from a header 90 through a pipe 9I connected to the lower end of the cylinder and the header. The header 90 is connected to the supply pump by a pipe 92 provided with a check valve 93 intermediate the ends thereof. An adjustable pressure relief valve 95 connected to the pipe 92 above the check valve 93 is provided with a return pipe 96 leading to the sump. The effective area of the piston 89 is small and is readily overcome by the piston 53 upon the downward stroke of the latter. The fluid exhausted from the cylinder 82 by the downward stroke of the piston 89 is returned to the sump through the relief valve 95.

The dies 45 and 46 have recesses E96 and IDI, 'of general rectangular shape, formed in the adjacent sides thereof for the reception of the spring to be sized and quenched. In order to accommodate springs of different sizes and to provide for wear, adjustment, etc., the recesses are made larger than required and provided with detachable and/or movable members or inserts which engage the spring. A member I03 detachably secured in the bottom of the recess IIlI by screws I04 forms a support for the spring when it is placed in the die and in cooperation with a similar member I65 detachably secured to a projection I 06 in the bottom of the recess I00 dies are closed.

The spring is sized in a horizontal plane by a replaceable member I Hi secured to the front wall of the die 46 by screws H I and a similar member H2 slidabl'y supported on the upper face of the rear wall of the die by an angular member N3, the projecting forward end of which overlies the member H2. A screw H5 threaded onto the member I I2- and free to move in anaperture in the member "3- permits movement of the member H2 but maintains the same in assembled relationship with the member H3, etc. As' the dies are closed the member H2 is moved towards the member 0 to clamp and size the spring positioned therebetween, by a plurality of wedges I-I'I- bol-ted to the rear wall of the upper die 45, the lower ends of which are tapered and engage bethe' member. The wedges III project in suitable apertures H6 in the lower die when the dies are closed, and the rear sides thereof engage replaceable rear blocks H9 secured to a projection I26 on the lower die.-

S'prings of different lengths can be sized by attachingthe required number or size of replaceable washer shaped members I22 to the right hand wall of the recess IUI as viewed in Figs.- 3 and 5. The spring is sized lengthwise between the right hand wall of the recess IBI and a movable member I23 slidably supported in the left hand end of the recess.- The member I23 is continuously urged towards the left as viewed in Figs. 3 and 5 by springs I24 supported on pins I 25 fixed in the lower dies 46, and projecting through suitable apertures inprojections formed on' the member I23 which assist in grading the same. The member I23 is moved towards the right as viewed in Figs. 3 and 5, by a tapered wedge member I29 bolted to a projection I30 in the bottom of the recess I00. The face of the member I23 adjacent the spring is provided with one or more replaceable washer-shaped members I32 similar to the members I22. The member I23 is provided with an aperture I35 which registers with a cored out duct I 38 formed in the die member 46, and the member I29 is provided with an aperture I39 which registers with the aperture I35 when the dies are closed. The duct I38 is provided for the ingress of quenching oil, etc., to the interior of the dies and communicates with both ends of the recess IIII in the lower die and with an aperture I40 in the bracket 48.

Quenching fluid is supplied to the tank from a storage and cooling reservoir not shown, through a central pipe I50 secured to the building structure or supported in any convenient manner, and connected to a pipe I5I carried by the turret by a rotary or universal coupling I52. The lower end of the pipe I5I communicates with the interior of the member I 6, which is open to the interior of the quenching tank through a plurality of pipes I55 supported therein, the upturned ends of which are in alignment with the apertures I40 in the brackets 48.

While the machine is in operation oil or quenching medium is continuously forced through the pipes I55 and as the dies are submerged; oil is forced into the interior thereof, quenching the springs from the inside. Aligned apertures I56 and I5! in the lower die 46 and the bracket 48 communicate with the interior of the dies externally of the spring positioned therein, and in addition to permitting a certain amount of quenching medium to enter the dies as the same are submerged, provide for draining the recess IIII in the lower die 46 when the same is in its raised or up position. An overflow pipe (not shown) connected to the tank If, retu'rhsthe quenching medium to the storage and cooling reservoir and maintains the level thereof constant.

It is believed that the operation of the ma.- chine will be apparent from the foregoing description, suffice it to say that as the dies successively enter the front position as viewed in Fig. l, which in the present instance is the loading station, the quenched and sized spring therein is removed and a new blank inserted. After the loading operation has been performed, the dies are closed and submerged in the quenching medi um by manual actuation of the valve lever I6 and a push button switch I5T attached to the side 0f the bracket 15, in shunt circuit with the limit switch in the box 15, temporarily closed. The turret is thereupon rotated or until the valve lever Ill of the next following unit engages the roller 13 and actuates both the limit switch and the" valve. In addition to being simultaneously sized and quenched, the spring is quenched from the inside rather than from the outside as is customary in the art. Quenching in this manner produces superior physical characteris i tics in the material located at the smallest diameter of the coil where the greatest strain occurs in operation.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that I do not intend to be limited to the construction shown which may be varied within the scope of this invention. The present application isintended to cover all adaptations, modifications, and variations of the construction illustrated as come within the practice of those skilled in the art to which it pertains, and I particularly point out and claim as my invention the following:

Having thus described my invention I claim:

1. In a quenching machine of the character referred to the combination of a stationary base having a reservoir therein for the reception of the quenching medium, a turret rotatably supported by said base, means for rotating said turret, cooperating upper and lower sizing dies slidably supported by said turret, yieldable means for continuously urging the lower die into its raised position above the quenching medium, and means for moving said upper die into and out of the quenching medium.

2. In a quenching machine of the character referred to the combination of a stationary base having a reservoir therein for the reception of the quenching medium, a turret rotatably supported by said base, means for rotating said turret, a plurality of pairs of cooperating upper and lower sizing dies slidably supported by said turret, fluid pressure actuated means for continuously urging the lower die of each pair into its uppermost position above the quenching medium, and fluid pressure actuated means for lowering and raising said upper dies and in turn the lower dies into and out of the quenching medium.

3. In a quenching machine of the character referred to the combination of a stationary base having a reservoir therein for the reception of the quenching medium, a turret rotatably supported by said base, means for rotating said turret, cooperating sizing dies adapted to size a helical spring supported by said turret, and means for conducting quenching medium into the interior of a helical spring positioned in said dies.

4. In a quenching machine of the character 75 referred to the combination of a stationary base having a reservoir therein for the reception of a quenching medium, a turret rotatably supported by said base, means for rotating said turret, cooperating sizing dies adapted to size a helical spring slidably supported by said turret, means for moving said dies into and out of the quenching medium, and means for conducting quenching medium into the interior of a helical spring positioned in said dies.

5. In a quenching machine of the character referred to the combination of a stationary base having a reservoir therein for the reception of the quenching medium, a turret rotatably supported by said base, means for rotating said turret, and a plurality of sizing and quenching units carried by said turret, each of said units comprising cooperating upper and lower sizing dies adapted to size a helical spring, means for moving said dies into and out of the quenching medium, and means for conducting a part of the quenching medium into the interior of the helical spring being sized and quenched.

6. In a quenching machine of the character referred to the combination of a stationary base having a reservoir therein for the reception of the quenching medium, a turret rotatably supported by said base, means for rotating said turret, a plurality of sizing and quenching units carried by said turret, each of said units comprising cooperating upper and lower sizing dies adapted to size a helical spring, fluid pressure actuated means for first closing said dies and then moving the same into the quenching medium, and means for introducing" a part of the quenching medium into the interior of the spring simultaneous with the submersion of the dies therein. 7. In a quenching machine of the character re- .ferred to the combination of a stationary base having a reservoir therein for the reception of the quenching medium, a turret rotatably. supported by said base, means for rotating said turret, cooperating sizing dies slidably supported by said turret and adapted to size a hollow member, means for closing said dies and then moving the same into the quenching medium, means for conducting a part of the quenching medium into the interior of the member being sized and quenched simultaneous with its submersion therein, and automatic means for moving said dies out of the quenching medium controlled by the rotation of said turret.

8. In a quenching machine of the character referred to the combination of a stationary base having a reservoir therein for the reception of a quenching medium, a turret rotatably supported by said base, means for rotating said turret, a plurality of pairs of cooperating sizing dies slidably supported by said turret and adapted tosize and quench a hollow article, fluid pressure actuated means for raising and lowering said dies whereby said dies are opened and closed and moved into and out of the quenching medium, and means for introducing a part of the quenching medium into the interior of the article being sized and quenched simultaneous with its submersion therein.

JOSEPH GOGAN. 

